Wheel type target member



C. W. HOWARD WHEELTYPE TARGET MEMBER May 3, 1949.

2 snets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24, 1947.

. I D mm/ UIL .Hlmv m Q/ R JCI` I` MM f l Y V `J mm m l c. w. HOWARD WHEEL TYPE TARGET MEMBER 'May 3, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, .1947

. NVENTOR. CHARLES W. HOWARD y ATTORNEY Patented May 3, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a game table upon which different games may be played Without resetting or adjustment. The game is played With a ball and a cue against a set of wheels all diii'erently marked. The wheels are star shaped each having ve ngers with card markings on one side and number markings on the other side. The five wheels are mounted to turn one at a time upon being struck by a ball when the reading on the nger pointing upward shows a point of the score of a card game and the reading on a linger pointing downward shows one of a series -of numbers of a number game.

These and pther objects of the game will be 'explained and understood with the aid of the Aattached drawing.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View in perspective -oi the spring comb as herein embodied.

. The game table consists of a long, trough-like structure with a flat rectangular bottom Ill, -with a left side wall II and a right side wall I2 both alike, standing upright along the edges of the bottom Ill, either permanently xed thereon, or hinged as at `l 5 to permit inward folding for easy transportation. The main or middle portion of each side wall is rectangular as at I1, while its forward end is higher with a horizontal top edge I8 joining with the rectangular portion by Aa downwardly slanting edge I9,l at about a 45 angle. Midway down on this edge I9 a deep lcut 2.0 is furnished. The bottom of this cut forms the bearing for a transverse spindle 2 I, which is -Xed between the side walls II, I2 by washers and nuts on the outside. In order to hold the side walls II, I2 firmly in upright position, a cross bolt 22 is furnished for each end of the rectangular portion I1 engaging in a shallow slot 23, this for the purpose of easy assembling.

On the spindle 2l the rive star wheels 26 are mounted side by side to turn freely in the direction arrow X, when one of the fingers 21 has been struck by ball 28. In order to limit the turning of the star wheel to one step at a time, a spring comb 29, having a light, curved spring element 30 for each of the star wheels E. The spring comb 29 is carried for up and down adjustment in a vertical recess furnished oppositely in the left and the right side wall portions I8. Each spring element 30 is shaped with a sag or down.- Ward bend between the top-most ngers 2l of the star wheels 2S. By Xing the spring comb A29 higher up in the recesses 3I, the pressure will be light, while with the spring comb lowered its pressure against the wheel points 21 will be heavier.

The table is provided with two oors, the upper floor 3l! being level and placed just below the finger points without toudhing the fingers 21 and also below the top edge I1 of the side walls, to assure that a ball 28 played on this oor 34 will not jump over the side Wall edge I1. The rearmost portion of the upper floor 34 is preferably covered with a piece of billiard cloth 35, to keep the ball 23 from shifting about, when in position to be played. The forward edgeof this level floor 34 terminates a little beyond the axis of the wheel spindle 2| in front; and terminates at the rear near the rear cross bolt y22. Both floors are of .the full width of the trough and supported on suitable ribs or ledges 35 secured along the side walls 1I, I'2. The forward end of the table yor trough 9 is completely closed by a front wall 31 which is slidably carried in vertical grooves 38 provided in the side wall Il, I2 from top I8 to bottom I0. At the rear end the side walls are stepped down to the height of the rear bolt 22 y and the rear end closed by a vertical wall 39,

which is also carried in grooves dit in the side walls ll and l2.

Extending all the way between said front and -rear walls 31 and 439 a lower iloor y4| is provided, :also supported on side ribs 35 inclined about 8 to l0 vwith its highest point at the front wall. The lfunction of theslanting floor is to return a .ball `28 falling ofi lthe front edge of the upper rlicor, after 'having passed the wheels 26, back to the rear end of the table, into the open pocket formed between the rear wall 4i! and the bolt 22.

Referring now 'more particularly `to figures showing the marking on the star Wheels 25. The iirst wheel from the left has the rear face of its ve fingers 21 marked respectively; Ace of hearts, King of clubs, Ace of spades, Jack of diamonds and Nine of hearts. The forward faces of the same ve Iingers are marked respectively with Similarly the other four wheels are marked in the same manner for cards oi other values and diierent numerals. Since however only twentyfive spaces for marking are available on each side of the iingers, the highest cards, from ace to nine can be marked including the joker; and on the other hand only numbers 1 to 25 are marked on the reverse side of the iingers, used for the number game. The markings are all so arranged that the reading for a card game is done from the iingers pointing upward, while the readings for a number game are all made from the fingers pointing downward. These readings are all made by the player standing behind the table.

When commencing to play any of the several games possible, the player stands withthe cue 42 in his hands and places the ball 28 on the cloth 36 of the upper iioor. Then with the cue he gives the ball 28 a sharp blow sending it forward against one of the wheels 26, which then makes a fifth turn, as the spring element 30 permits no more. Directly the ball has passed the wheel, it drops down to the lower floor 36, which by its slanting causes the ball to return to the rear pocket as stopped by the wall 39. The ball is then again placed on the mat ready for the next stroke by the same or another player.

Some of the games that may be played on this table are the following:

1. Polcer.-This can be played to get any poker hand from royal flush down. Each player is permitted to shoot iive times in succession. A score card should be used by each player to mark each hand as it is played.

2, Pitch, which consists of high, low, jack, joker and game. Each player shoots ve times in succession marking his points until someone gets fteen points. The rst shot of each player determines his suit.

3. High, score number gama-Two or more it players, taking turns can play this game, shooting five times each, continuing until one of the players has an added score of four hundred. In this case the reading is made on the fingers standing below the wheel axle.

4. Seven hand Tummy- Each player shoots ve times in succession and if any player gets three of a kind, a run of three or four, he marks it on his score card. Each player in turn does the same; and when all have played the rst gets another ve shots, and then all the other players follow. The game is continued until one player rummies, that is, having a run of seven cards. The reading in this game is made from the upstanding fingers with the card markings which face the players.

5. Crazy tanga-There are 25 tango cards and no two alike. There Yare 25 numbers on the five wheels so every number called is on each card but in different places. As many as 25 people can play at once. One person can shoot the numbers and call them and the players can place the chips on the numbers called. The rst one getting ve numbers in a row, up and down or across the card or diagonal wins the game.

Using the lower number readings many other games not here mentioned may also be played on planes paralleling the turning axis of the shaft,

and yieldable holding means for the wheel adapted to release the wheel for turning when a blade is struck by a game piece comprising a long spring arm secured at one end to extend over the top of the Wheel and formed to provide a downwardly bowed portion merging into an upwardly bowed arched terminal portion in which latter portion is releasably engaged the top edge of an upwardly projecting blade.

2. A movably mounted game target device of the character stated in claim 1, in which the arm.

f jality of flat, radial blades having wide front'and back faces disposed in planes paralleling the turning axis of the shaft, and yieldable holding means for the wheels adapted to release the wheels for turning when a blade is struck by a game piece, comprising a relatively long panel disposed parallel with the shaft upon the side thereof opposite from the direction of approach of the game piece, means supporting the panel at its ends for vertical adjustment, and a plurality of relatively long spring arms carried by the panel in a spacial relation corresponding to the spacial arrangement of the wheels and each arm extending forwardly over the top of a wheel and formed to provide a downwardly bowed portion merging into an upwardly bowed arched terminal portion in which latter portion is releasably engaged the top edge of an upwardly projecting blade of the adjacent wheel.

CHARLES W. HOWARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 650,948 Nelson June 5, 1900 814,463 Lnderman Mar. 6, 1906 1,553,655 Wade'l Sept. 15, 1925 1,663,024 Noyes Mar. 20, 1928 1,947,125 De Pew Feb. 13, 1934 1,986,000 Langrock Jan. l, 1935 

